Thats Amore

Im going to say it. Not including Australia, which is home and Japan which is ichiban (number 1) Italy is my favourite. Loved it loved it loved it.

I loved knowing that this was the country that invented pizza, and pasta. Mouthwatering, flavour filled tomato sauces the main ingredient in back to basics pizzas that just melt in your mouth.

The allure of Venice, a million laneways to weave and dodge, like your very own James Bond spy movie.

The surprise of picturesque coastline, cool, clear rock pools with scurrying crabs. Yellow lines of umbrellas, a perfect frame to the endless blue.

Houses jutting in to the cliffs, making it unclear which depends on the other to stay put.

A lifestyle that means that something might be open in the morning, might be open mid afternoon, wont be open at noon and just deal with it. This extends to the trains, yes theyll be running, except there might be a strike on Sunday and what are you going to do about it?

Camping grounds that provide cool and calm, and magnificent views.

Images of family owned olive groves tradition as deep and rich as the olives themselves.

The deli stall of a small town market, where the hour long wait in line is a pleasant insight in the Italian life, where a slice of foccacia, a pot of olives, a few choice cuts of cheese and slices of the freshest unpronoucable ham and a drizzle of pesto is not lunch for a curious tourist but part of the provisions for a dinner party or a family luncheon, in a part of this world where real lives are being lived.

Cities where it is actually scary to be on the streets after dark because it is the home of the mafia, and you might have heard a gun shot last night.

Town names like Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento, where youve watched Catriona buy gelati and now your doing it yourself.

I could go on an on..............

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